Designs for an Pierced Border Ornament, Three Pitchers and an Open Basin (recto); Design for a Candle Stick (verso) 1845 - 1855

Here is a page of watercolor designs for tableware and ornaments by Alfred Henry Forrester, dating from the 19th century. These aren't designs for fine art, but rather for functional objects, things intended for everyday use. The artist has paid close attention to the shapes and surface decoration of these vessels. The designs depict molded, pierced borders and handles with floral ornaments. Watercolor lends itself to the ornamentation of porcelain: it gives a good sense of the play of light across the curves. The designs speak to the burgeoning consumer culture of the 1800s, when a wider segment of the population could afford stylish household goods. Though these objects seem frivolous, their production relied on the labor of skilled artisans and factory workers. This drawing offers an interesting window onto the relationship between design, craft, and the rise of industrial manufacturing, blurring the lines between art and industry.